Mary Deiter, who was married to the first Marine to set foot on what would become Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany, cuts the birthday cake for the installation with the help of the base’s commanding officer, Col. Terry Williams, center, and Sgt. Maj. Conrad Potts, MCLB-Albany’s sergeant major. The installation celebrated its 60th anniversary Thursday.

MCLB-ALBANY, Ga. -- While reflecting on how far the Albany Marine base has come in six decades, officials were also excited about the potential it has for the future.

Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany welcomed community leaders to the installation Thursday in recognition of the base's 60th anniversary.

After an overview of the base's history, there were city and county proclamations presented. There to present the Dougherty County proclamation was Commission Chair Jeff Sinyard.

"This is the symbol of success," he told reporters of the installation after the ceremony. "This base does more than their part.

"They are the lifeblood of this community."

There was also a resolution from U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, presented at the ceremony, acknowledging the base's anniversary. That was presented by Kenneth Cutts, a representative from Bishop's office.

There to give some early recollections of the base was retired Master Gunnery Sgt. William Hamby, one of the first Marines to set foot on the installation.

Born in 1928, he came to Southwest Georgia as a staff sergeant the year before MCLB-Albany was formally established.

"This is a really exciting day," Hamby said. "This organization has been here 60 years, and they excel at everything they do.

"When I'm around Marines, I'm always proud. Now, there are a lot of changes here, and I wish them (those on the base) all the success in the world."

The installation was commissioned on March 1, 1952 as the Marine Corps Depot of Supplies. Brig. Gen. Raymond P. Coffman assumed command and a small contingent of Marines established headquarters in temporary buildings. Construction continued, and by early 1954, the station was sufficiently complete with warehouses and administration buildings to assume supply support for Marines east of the Rocky Mountains and in the Atlantic area.

On July 29, 1954, the command was renamed Marine Corps Supply Center Albany. The MCSC managed and controlled supplies at storage and issue locations in the eastern half of the United States, the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Depot level rebuild operations began at the base in October 1954.

"Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany has gone by many names, and (the names represent) functions that have been provided to our tenants for 60 years," said Col. Terry Williams, commanding officer of the installation. "In those 60 years, we have done some fantastic things."

After listing some of the accomplishments of the base and its tenants, and congratulating its personnel on how far MCLB has come, the colonel said, "Despite some of the difficulties we are having, we will get over it and continue to do great things."

Today, Marine Corps Logistics Command (LOGCOM), a tenant command of the base, is committed to being an organization capable of global reach with integrated logistics chain support. It serves as a vital operational logistics broker that connects strategic logistics resources to tactical logistics requirements, thereby enabling the operating forces to focus on warfighting.

Additionally, the command provides total lifecycle management capabilities to support the acquisition and sustainment of the Corps' equipment. LOGCOM is now present in every geographic region and stands ready to innovate, develop and execute meaningful logistics solutions to meet operational needs.

MCLB-Albany is home to LOGCOM headquarters. Under LOGCOM is Marine Depot Maintenance Command, which maintains production plants here and in Barstow, Calif.

The celebration ended with Williams and Sgt. Maj. Conrad Potts, the base's sergeant major, helping Mary Deiter -- who was married to the late Karl Deiter, the first Marine to come to Albany in 1951 -- cut the base's birthday cake.